Every game of the NFL Divisional Playoff Weekend is a regular-season rematch as both of the AFC games are between division opponents — the first time since 2000 that two games feature teams playing for a third time in a season.

The nastiest matchup of the weekend is the first on the docket: Baltimore at Pittsburgh. The teams have waged wars in the AFC North over the years, and 2010 was no exception. Each team scored 27 points total in the two games, and the games are as physical as any in the NFL over the previous decade.

The Ravens continued to have playoff success on the road as they beat Kansas City last Sunday 30-7 in New Arrowhead. It was the third straight season with at least one playoff victory for Baltimore, the only club in the NFL to do so over the period. QB Joe Flacco joined Bernie Kosar (1985-87) and Dan Marino (1983-85) to start a playoff game in each of their first three seasons in the league. The Ravens will try to advance to the AFC title game for the first time since the 2008 season.

Pittsburgh survived the loss of QB Ben Roethlisberger to a four-game suspension to get to a 3-1 start which included a home loss to the Ravens. The Steelers won six of their last seven games, including a road win at Baltimore for the division title. Roethlisberger Has thrown a personal-best 158 straight passes without an INT, the longest for the Steelers since QB Kordell Stewart had a streak of 159 consecutive pass attempts without an interception in 2001.

The teams split the regular season meetings, with the Ravens winning in Pittsburgh 17-14 in October, and the Steelers winning in Baltimore 13-10 in December.

The last time the clubs met in the playoffs, Pittsburgh advanced to Super Bowl XLII with a 23-14 victory in Heinz Field. Pittsburgh S Troy Polamalu’s 40-yard INT-TD of Flacco with 4:24 to play in the fourth quarter sealed the Steelers’ 6th AFC title.

Thanks to the game notes produced by the two clubs’ PR staffs and notes provided by the NFL PR staff, here is a look at the key notes for the Ravens and Steelers going into the AFC Divisional Playoff Game.

BALTIMORE RAVENS

RAVENS-STEELERS = EPIC BATTLES: In five of the last six games played between the Ravens and Steelers, the margin of victory has been 3 points, including both games earlier this season when the Ravens won at Pittsburgh, 17-14, and the Steelers won in Baltimore, 13-10. The fourth-game differential? Four points.

CROSSING ENEMY LINES: In just 10 all-time postseason games on the road, Baltimore has tied for the third-most away playoff victories in NFL history. In fact, Baltimore produced six playoff road wins this past decade (2000-09), tied with the Cowboys (1970s) for the most in a single decade.

PLAYOFF PICKS: In 14 playoff games, the Ravens’ “D” has forced 29 INTs, including 17 thefts in their last eight postseason contests. Baltimore’s 29 INTs rank as the most in NFL postseason play since 2000, while the 551 INT return yards also stand first (NE is second with 429). Four of those picks have been returned for touchdowns.

PITTSBURGH STEELERS

RUN STUFFERS: The Steelers shattered the team record for rushing yards/game allowed in 2010 by giving up just 62.8 yards per game. The previous mark was 74.7 rushing yards/game set in 2001.

The Steelers ranked first in the league and allowed a season-low 30 yards rushing in Week 8 at New Orleans.

Additionally, the Steelers’ rush defense finished as one of the
best since the NFL merger. Pittsburgh’s 62.8 average is third-lowest, behind only the Ravens’ 60.6 in 2000 and the Vikings 61.6 in 2006.

IMPOSING THEIR WILL: The Steelers averaged 120.3 rushing yards per game in 2010, which ranked seventh in the AFC and 11th in the NFL.

The Steelers outrushed 14 of their 16 opponents in 2010, averaging nearly 60 more yards on the ground than their opponents.

Pittsburgh has achieved this success despite having a number of injuries to the offensive line. On the year, the Steelers started five different combinations on the offensive line.

GIMME THE BALL: The Steelers tallied 35 takeaways in 2010, which ranked second in the AFC and third (tied) in the NFL.

The Steelers ranked second in the AFC and second in the NFL with a plus-17 (+17) turnover advantage (35 takeaways, 18 giveaways).

RAVENS-STEELERS FROM THE NFL PR OFFICE:TEAMS MEET for 3rd time in postseason. Steelers are 2-0 vs. Ravens in playoffs.